EP3333026B1 - Système de nettoyage d'un capteur monté sur un véhicule - Google Patents

Système de nettoyage d'un capteur monté sur un véhicule Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3333026B1
EP3333026B1 EP18150547.0A EP18150547A EP3333026B1 EP 3333026 B1 EP3333026 B1 EP 3333026B1 EP 18150547 A EP18150547 A EP 18150547A EP 3333026 B1 EP3333026 B1 EP 3333026B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air
liquid
fluid
pump
volume
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP18150547.0A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3333026A1 (fr
Inventor
Robert López Galera
Carlos Esteller Pitarch
Miguel Mota López
Olallo ALCAIDE HERNÁNDEZ
Cristian RODRÍGUEZ ESTÉVEZ
José Manuel ESPINOSA
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Fico Transpar SA
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Fico Transpar SA
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Publication of EP3333026A1 publication Critical patent/EP3333026A1/fr
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
    • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
    • B60S1/54—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices using gas, e.g. hot air
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B5/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use of air flow or gas flow
    • B08B5/02—Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
    • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
    • B60S1/56—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B21/00—Arrangements or duct systems, e.g. in combination with pallet boxes, for supplying and controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects
    • F26B21/004—Nozzle assemblies; Air knives; Air distributors; Blow boxes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/0006—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/50—Constructional details
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/80—Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
    • H04N23/81—Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation
    • H04N23/811—Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation by dust removal, e.g. from surfaces of the image sensor or processing of the image signal output by the electronic image sensor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
    • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
    • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
    • B60S1/06—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive
    • B60S1/08—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven
    • B60S1/0818—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
    • B60S1/0822—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
    • B60S1/0833—Optical rain sensor
    • B60S1/0844—Optical rain sensor including a camera
    • B60S1/0848—Cleaning devices for cameras on vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
    • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
    • B60S1/46—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices using liquid; Windscreen washers
    • B60S1/48—Liquid supply therefor
    • B60S1/481—Liquid supply therefor the operation of at least part of the liquid supply being controlled by electric means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
    • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
    • B60S1/46—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices using liquid; Windscreen washers
    • B60S1/48—Liquid supply therefor
    • B60S1/52—Arrangement of nozzles; Liquid spreading means

Definitions

  • the present invention refers in general to techniques for automatically cleaning a surface of a sensor mounted on a vehicle by blowing air to remove light dirt (eg. dust) from the surface or remove liquid drops on the surface (eg. due to rain or washing) such that a clear signal can be captured anytime.
  • light dirt eg. dust
  • remove liquid drops on the surface eg. due to rain or washing
  • motor vehicles are commonly fitted with sensors to assist drivers in diverse traffic situations, such as, but not limited to, parking assistance, blind zone object detection, traffic lane departure, traffic signal identification or rear-view mirror substitution.
  • these sensors are fitted on a vehicle's exterior surface such that a sensor surface is exposed to dirt, which reduces the quality of the captured signal.
  • a sensor surface is exposed to dirt, which reduces the quality of the captured signal.
  • washing devices to wash an exposed surface of an in-vehicle mounted camera (eg. a lens or a cover window) and which are conventionally equipped with a high-pressure air generation device, which generates high-pressure wash water by using high-pressure air and sprays the high-pressure wash water on the exposed surface of the camera to wash and clean it.
  • a high-pressure air generation device which generates high-pressure wash water by using high-pressure air and sprays the high-pressure wash water on the exposed surface of the camera to wash and clean it.
  • sensors that do not require capturing an image are those with less stringent cleaning requirements.
  • the invention is defined by the subject-matter of independent claim 1.
  • the liquid pump may be used to supply pressurized liquid to other vehicle components.
  • part of the pressurized washing liquid flow supplied by a liquid pump used in another washing system eg. headlight, front windshield or rear windshield washing systems
  • a liquid nozzle arranged to discharge washing liquid onto another vehicle surface eg. headlight, front windshield or rear windshield
  • the air pump fluid inlet may be branched out and supplied at the air pump fluid inlet.
  • one liquid pump is capable of generating pressurized liquid for several vehicle applications such that several functions may be implemented with a reduced number of components. Therefore, the system is implemented in a very cost-effective manner.
  • the flow of pressurized liquid may be supplied at a manometric pressure in the range of 0.5 bar to 9 bar at a liquid pump outlet.
  • the sensor surface may be transparent to electromagnetic radiation. More specifically, the sensor surface may be transparent to infrared radiation, visible radiation, ultraviolet radiation or any combination thereof. In other words, the sensor surface may allow electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough.
  • the air pump may be provided with a variable volume fluid chamber. This chamber is communicated with the fluid inlet and the air-fluid interface is arranged to separate the fluid and compression chambers from each other.
  • the fluid chamber is configured such that the flow of pressurized liquid varies its volume. Volume variation of the liquid chamber causes volume variation of the compression chamber to generate a volume of pressurized air with an absolute pressure value below 10 bar.
  • the flow of pressurized liquid may increase the volume of the fluid chamber.
  • the volume increase of the fluid chamber may cause volume reduction of the compression chamber.
  • the volume of the compression chamber may be reduced to generate a volume of pressurized air with an absolute pressure value below 10 bar.
  • the air pump may be provided with a body.
  • the air-fluid interface may be connected to the body such that the compression chamber is defined by the body and the air-fluid interface.
  • the body may be formed as a one-piece element or may be formed as an assembly of separate parts.
  • the air-fluid interface may be a plunger arranged in sliding contact with the body.
  • the compression chamber is defined by the body and the plunger.
  • the plunger is configured to slide within the body with the flow of pressurized liquid. In that situation, the plunger slides within the body and varies the volume of the compression chamber; preferably, the plunger reduces the volume of the compression chamber when displaced by the pressurized liquid.
  • the plunger may be biased towards the fluid inlet by a spring housed in the body.
  • the air-fluid interface may be an elastic element attached to the body.
  • the compression chamber is defined by the body and the elastic element.
  • the elastic element is configured to deform with the flow of pressurized liquid. In that situation, the elastic element deforms and varies the volume of the compression chamber; preferably, the elastic element reduces the volume of the compression chamber when deformed by the flow of pressurized liquid.
  • the elastic element may be an elastic membrane.
  • the elastic element may comprise a bellow-shaped portion that serves to bias the elastic element towards the fluid inlet.
  • the elastic element may be made of an elastomeric material.
  • the air-fluid interface may be arranged to split the body into a first and a second portion.
  • the plunger or the elastic element may be arranged to split the body into first and second portions.
  • the compression chamber is defined by the first portion of the body and the air-fluid interface
  • the fluid chamber is defined by the second portion of the body and the air-fluid interface.
  • the air pump may be provided with a one-way valve communicated with the compression chamber. This one-way valve allows air to enter into the compression chamber during expansion of the same and prevents air from entering into the chamber during compression of the same.
  • Compressing a volume of air and discharging it onto the sensor surface is carried out by a control unit operatively associated with the air flow control device and with the liquid pump.
  • the control unit first closes the air flow control device and activates the liquid pump to supply pressurized liquid during a predetermined period of time to generate a volume of pressurized air within the compression chamber.
  • the air flow control device is opened such that at least one blast of pressurized air is applied onto the sensor surface to blow off dust or any drop of liquid from the sensor surface.
  • the control unit deactivates the liquid pump such that the compression chamber is refilled with non-compressed air.
  • the control unit closes the airflow control device. In case a one-way valve is provided, the liquid pump and the air flow control device are closed at the same time by the control unit as the compression chamber is refilled with non-compressed air through the one-way valve.
  • the cleaning system may also comprise a washing liquid nozzle arranged to discharge washing liquid onto the sensor surface.
  • a liquid flow control device may also be provided in communication with the washing liquid nozzle for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough.
  • a liquid pump may supply pressurized washing liquid to the liquid flow control device.
  • washing liquid is pressurized by the same liquid pump that supplies pressurized liquid to the air pump.
  • the liquid pump may supply pressurized washing liquid to both the air pump liquid inlet and the liquid flow control device.
  • Dispensing the washing liquid and the air blow in a coordinated manner is carried out by the control unit operatively associated with the air flow control device, the liquid flow control device and the liquid pump.
  • the control unit is adapted to perform different cleaning cycles. In a preferred cleaning cycle, the control unit first closes the air flow control device, opens the liquid flow control device and activates the liquid pump to supply pressurized washing liquid during a predetermined period of time. Next, the control unit closes the liquid flow control device to generate a volume of pressurized air within the compression chamber. The control unit then opens the air flow control device such that at least one blast of pressurized air is applied onto the sensor surface to blow off any drop of washing liquid from the sensor surface.
  • control unit deactivates the liquid pump such that the compression chamber is refilled with non-compressed air.
  • control unit closes the air flow control device. In case a one-way valve is provided, the liquid pump and the air flow control device are closed at the same time by the control unit as the compression chamber is refilled with non-compressed air through the one-way valve.
  • This cleaning system efficiently removes foreign matter strongly adhered onto the sensor surface with reduced washing fluid consumption and ensures that any drop of washing liquid on the sensor surface which may impair capturing a quality signal, is quickly removed and the cleaning time is therefore reduced.
  • the system may be provided with a housing having an opening adapted to fit the sensor surface.
  • the air nozzle and/or the liquid nozzle may be fixedly or movably attached to the housing.
  • the air and/or liquid nozzles may be fixed or movable nozzles.
  • At least one of the air pump, the air flow control device and the liquid flow control device may be attached to the housing.
  • Movable nozzles are configured to move from a non-operative position to an operative position. In the non-operative position the movable nozzles are at least partially hidden in the housing, whereas in the operative position the movable nozzles are arranged to discharge fluid onto the sensor surface.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show a support 1, preferably made of a plastic material, suitable to be fitted in an automobile surface.
  • the support 1 has an opening 2 and a sensor surface 3, a camera lens in this example, mounted at that opening 2, and a video camera (not shown) inside a housing 4 of the support 1 and operatively arranged with respect to the camera lens 3.
  • an air pump 5, an air control device 6 and a liquid control device 7, are also mounted in the support 1.
  • the air control device 6 and the liquid control device 7 are implemented in this example by means of first and second electrovalves, respectively.
  • a liquid nozzle 9 and an air nozzle 8 are mounted at an outer surface of the support 1 as shown in the figure, and they are arranged to respectively dispense washing liquid and a blast of air on the camera lens 3.
  • the first electrovalve 6 is communicated with the air nozzle 8 and with the air pump 5 for opening and closing the flow of air provided by the air pump 5 through the air nozzle 8.
  • the second electrovalve 7 is communicated with the liquid nozzle 9 and with a washing liquid conduit 12 for opening and closing the flow of washing liquid through the liquid nozzle 9.
  • An electric connector 17 is also coupled with the support 1 for the electrical connection of the video camera or any other sensor with an external equipment (not shown).
  • Figures 3 and 4 show a first embodiment of the air pump 5 having a body 13 and an air-fluid interface housed inside the body.
  • the body 13 is a cylinder having a fluid inlet 19 and an air outlet 21 and the air-fluid interface is a displaceable plunger 14.
  • the plunger 14 splits the cylinder 13 into first and second portions such that a compression chamber 10 is defined by the first portion of the cylinder 13 and the plunger 14 and a fluid chamber 11 is defined by the second portion of the cylinder 13 and the plunger 14.
  • a spring coil 15 is housed within the first portion of the cylinder 13 such that the plunger 14 is biased by the spring coil 15 towards the fluid inlet 19.
  • the spring coil 15 may be housed within the second portion of the cylinder 13 and arranged so as to bias the plunger 14 towards the fluid inlet opening 19.
  • the spring coil 15 is arranged to enlarge the volume of the compression chamber 10 after the air pump 5 has dispensed a blast of air.
  • a one-way valve 18, mounted in the cylinder 13 and communicated with the compression chamber 10, is configured to allow air to enter into the compression chamber 10 during expansion of the compression chamber 10, and to prevent air from entering into the chamber 10 during compression of the compression chamber 10.
  • this one-way valve 18 is made of an elastic material and has a conical shape, where its narrower end has an opening and is placed inside the cylinder 13.
  • the washing liquid conduit 12 is additionally communicated with the fluid inlet 19, such that the air pump 5 can be operated by a flow of pressurized washing liquid supplied thereto. More in particular, the washing liquid conduit 12 is connected with a T-junction connector 23 such that a first branch 12' of the conduit 12 is connected with the connector 23 and with the fluid inlet 19 of the air pump 5 and a second branch 12" is connected with the connector 23 and with the second electrovalve 7. In this way, a flow of pressurized washing liquid generated by a liquid pump 22 is supplied both to the air pump 5 and to the second electrovalve 7.
  • a control unit implemented by means of a programmable electronic device, electrically communicated with the first and second electrovalves 6, 7 and the liquid pump 22, is adapted or programmed to carry out a cleaning cycle, in which first the liquid pump 22 is activated to pump washing liquid from a washing liquid reservoir to the washing liquid conduit 12 generating a flow of washing liquid.
  • the second electrovalve 7 in this first stage of the cleaning cycle is open, so that a burst of washing liquid is dispensed through the liquid nozzle 9 on a camera lens surface 3.
  • the first electrovalve 6 remains closed, although the flow of washing liquid is also fed to the fluid inlet 19 of the air pump 5.
  • the control unit closes the second electrovalve 7 such that the circulation of pressurized washing liquid through the second branch 12" and the dispensing of the same is interrupted.
  • the air pump 5 is filled with washing liquid, whose pressure is applied to the plunger 14 while the first electrovalve 6 remains closed.
  • the plunger 14 is displaced against the elastic action of the spring 15, increasing the volume of the variable volume fluid chamber 11 and reducing the volume of the variable volume compression chamber 10, thus, compressing a volume of air enclosed within the compression chamber 10. That is, the plunger 14 passes from its non-operative state, depicted in figure 3 , to its operative state, depicted in figure 4 .
  • the air pump 5 is configured such that the fluid chamber 11 expands to compress the compression chamber 10 to pressurize a volume of air enclosed in that chamber 10 with an absolute pressure below 10 bar.
  • the one-way valve 18 remains closed at this stage due to the pressure within the compression chamber 10 applied to the conical surface of that valve 18.
  • the cleaning system and in particular the air pump 5 and the liquid pump 22 are adapted in such a manner that pressure of the washing liquid pumped by the liquid pump 22 overcomes the elastic force of the coil spring 15 to operate the air pump 5.
  • control unit opens the first electrovalve 6 so that the pressurized air is released through the air nozzle 8 and a blast of air is projected on the camera lens surface 3 with enough pressure to remove and dry any liquid remaining on that surface.
  • the control unit stops the liquid pump 22 so that the manometric pressure on the plunger 14 is released. Then, the elastic force of the coil spring 15 forces the plunger 14 to return to its original position ( figure 3 ). At the same time that the compression chamber 10 expands, air from the exterior of the air pump 5 is suctioned through the one-way valve 18 filling the compression chamber 10 with non-compressed air.
  • Figures 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the air pump 5 where the air-fluid interface is an elastic element 16 instead of a plunger 14.
  • the elastic element 16 in this embodiment is an elastic membrane.
  • the elastic membrane 16 is attached to the cylinder 13 and splits it into first and second portions such that the compression chamber 10 is defined by the first portion of the cylinder 13 and the elastic membrane 16 and the fluid chamber 11 is defined by the second portion of the cylinder 13 and the elastic membrane 16.
  • the air pump 5 is in a non-operative state, where the first and second electrovalves 6, 7 are closed and the liquid pump 22 is not supplying liquid to the cleaning system.
  • the air pump 5 With both electrovalves 6, 7 closed and the liquid pump 22 activated to pump washing liquid from a washing liquid reservoir to the washing liquid conduit 12 generating a flow of washing liquid, the air pump 5 is filled with washing liquid, whose pressure is applied to the elastic membrane 16 while the first electrovalve 6 remains closed.
  • the elastic membrane 16 deforms ( figure 6 ), increasing the volume of the variable volume fluid chamber 11 and reducing the volume of the variable volume compression chamber 10, thus, compressing a volume of air enclosed within the compression chamber 10.
  • the air pump 5 is configured such that the fluid chamber 11 expands to compress the compression chamber 10 to pressurize a volume of air enclosed in that chamber 10 with an absolute pressure below 10 bar.
  • the cleaning system and in particular the air pump 5 and the liquid pump 22 are adapted in such a manner that pressure of the washing liquid pumped by the liquid pump 22 overcomes the elastic force of the elastic membrane 16 to operate the air pump 5.
  • the control unit stops the liquid pump 22 so that the manometric pressure on the elastic membrane 16 is released. Then, the elastic force of the elastic membrane 16 causes the elastic membrane 16 to return to its original position.
  • Figures 7 and 8 show a third embodiment of the air pump 5 where the air-fluid interface is an elastic element 16 having a bellow-shaped portion 20.
  • the elastic element 16 is attached to the cylinder 13 and splits it into first and second portions such that the compression chamber 10 is defined by the first portion of the cylinder 13 and the elastic element 16 and the fluid chamber 11 is defined by the second portion of the cylinder 13 and the elastic element 16.
  • the air pump 5 is in a non-operative state, where the first and second electrovalves 6, 7 are closed and the liquid pump 22 is not supplying liquid to the cleaning system.
  • the bellow-shaped portion 20 of the elastic element 16 is in a relaxed state.
  • the air pump 5 With both electrovalves 6, 7 closed and the liquid pump 22 activated to pump washing liquid from a washing liquid reservoir to the washing liquid conduit 12 generating a flow of washing liquid, the air pump 5 is filled with washing liquid, whose pressure is applied to the elastic element 16 while the first electrovalve 6 remains closed.
  • the bellow-shaped portion 20 of the elastic element 16 stretches out ( figure 8 ), increasing the volume of the variable volume fluid chamber 11 and reducing the volume of the variable volume compression chamber 10, thus, compressing a volume of air enclosed within the compression chamber 10.
  • the air pump 5 is configured such that the fluid chamber 11 expands to compress the compression chamber 10 to pressurize a volume of air enclosed in that chamber 10 with an absolute pressure below 10 bar.
  • the cleaning system and in particular the air pump 5 and the liquid pump 22 are adapted in such a manner that pressure of the washing liquid pumped by the liquid pump 22 overcomes the elastic force of the elastic element 16 to operate the air pump 5.
  • the control unit stops the liquid pump 22 so that the manometric pressure on the elastic element 16 is released. Then, the elastic force of the bellow-shaped portion 20 of the elastic element 16 causes the elastic element 16 to return to its original position.
  • a spring coil (not shown) may be arranged to assist the bellow-shaped portion 20 to cause the elastic element 16 to return to its original position.
  • a first option consists of arranging said spring coil surrounding the bellow-shaped portion 20 such that the spring coil wounds around its creases.
  • a second option consists of overmolding a spring coil with an adequate material, such as an elastomeric material, to form an elastic element 16 with a bellow-shaped portion 20 containing the spring coil. Other options of arranging the spring coil are not ruled out.
  • Figure 9 is an example of a preferred cleaning sequence which can be implemented in the case of heavy dirt, such as dried mud or insects stuck on the lens surface 3.
  • the cleaning cycle includes at least two consecutive washing liquid discharges, each liquid discharge having a duration within the range 0.1 to 0.5s (in this case 0.3 s), and with a time interval of 1s between these two liquid discharges. After, 1.5s, at least two consecutive blasts of air of 0.1s are dispensed with a time interval of 1s. The duration of the complete cleaning sequence is 4.3s.
  • control unit can be programmed to operate the air nozzle 8 and liquid nozzle 9 to carry out different cleaning sequences.
  • control unit can be programmed to operate the air nozzle 8 and liquid nozzle 9 independently from each other, to dispense only one or more bursts of washing liquid or to dispense only one or more blasts of air, which can be done simply by opening and closing the corresponding electrovalve 6, 7.
  • the one-way valve 18 can be eliminated.
  • the one-way valve 18 has been eliminated.
  • the air admission during the air refill, is carried out through the air nozzle 8, and keeping the electrovalve 6 opened.
  • any of the embodiments of figures 3 to 8 and 11 there are provided two fluid inlets 19,19' connected to a respective liquid pump (not shown in the figure).
  • a respective liquid pump not shown in the figure.
  • the technical effect of having two fluid inlets connected to a respective liquid pumps, is that the cylinder compression time is reduced.
  • the cleaning system has one or more individual air nozzles 8,8',for example in the embodiment of figure 13 it has two air nozzles 8,8'.
  • the cleaning system further comprises a flow distributor 24 connected between the air pump 5 and the two air nozzles 8,8'.
  • the flow distributor 24 may consist in the electrovalve (solenoid valve) 6 provided with one or more outlets, such as each outlet is connected with one of the air nozzles 8,8' for cleaning one or more sensor surface. During compression phase all the outlets are closed, and during air ejection phase one or two outlets are open.
  • the solenoid valve 6 can be integrally formed with the flow distributor 24 (drawing 13A), or alternatively it can be implemented as an external valve (drawing 13B). To dry or clean more than one sensor surface or parts of the sensor surface, the flow distributor 24 would direct pressurized air towards the two output nozzles 8,8'.
  • Figure 14 shows an embodiment without air flow control means, that is, without solenoid valve 6, so that the air pump 5 is directly connected with the air nozzle 8.
  • the liquid pump 22 When the liquid pump 22 is activated, air is pushed by a cylinder piston or membrane, and the air comes out of the air nozzle 8 with enough pressure to dry a sensor surface.
  • the air nozzle can be constructed as a telescopic nozzle.
  • the cleaning system includes a telescopic air nozzle 25 incorporating an extendable air nozzle 8.
  • the telescopic air nozzle 25 comprises a cylinder 26 and a plunger 27 housed within the cylinder 26, such as the plunger 27 divides the cylinder 26 internally in two chambers 26a,26b, such as one of the chambers 26a is connected with a first inlet (29) in turn connected directly with the fluid pump output (22).
  • the plunger 27 is hollow and it is connected with a second inlet (28) in turn connected with the airflow control device 6 output.
  • the fluid (liquid) pump 22 For ejecting pressurized air through the air nozzle 8, the fluid (liquid) pump 22 provides pressurized liquid both to the air pump 5 and to the telescopic air nozzle 25 through the inlet 29. Then, the plunger 27 and the air nozzle 8 extends outwardly (drawings 15), and while it is extended, the air pump supplies pressurized air through the inlet 28 and through the interior of the plunger 27.
  • the cleaning system incorporates a reversible fluid pump 22', which operates in the same manner during as previously described during the compression and air ejection phases (drawing A). However, during the air refilling phase (drawing 16B), the reversible fluid pump 22'reverses its function to work as a vacuum pump.
  • the system incorporates a flow distributor 24 connected between the fluid pump 22 and the air pump 5, such as an output of the flow distributor 24 is connected with the liquid nozzle 9, so that the flow distributor 24 separates the liquid circuit and the air circuit.
  • the fluid pump 22 can consist of a dual fluid pump, that is, a fluid pump having two individual fluid outputs, such as each output supplies pressurized fluid to different fluid circuits.
  • the dual fluid pump 22 has two fluid outputs, one of them is connected with the liquid nozzle 9, and the other one is connected with the air pump 5.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
  • Nozzles (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Système de nettoyage de la surface d'un capteur externe monté sur un véhicule, comprenant
    - deux buses d'air (8, 8', 9) agencées pour projeter de l'air sur une ou plusieurs surfaces de capteur (3),
    - une pompe à air (5) comportant une entrée de fluide (19), une sortie d'air (21), une interface air-fluide (14 ; 16) et une chambre de compression (10) à volume variable reliée à la sortie d'air (21), caractérisé en ce que le système comprend également
    - un dispositif de commande de flux d'air (6) relié aux buses d'air (8, 8') et la sortie d'air (21) pour commander le flux d'air les traversant,
    - une pompe à liquide (22) reliée à l'entrée de fluide (19) pour fournir un flux de liquide pressurisé de façon telle que le volume de la chambre de compression (10) varie pour engendrer un volume d'air pressurisé ayant une valeur de pression absolue inférieure à 10 bar,
    et
    - un distributeur de flux (24) connecté
    entre la pompe à air (5) et les deux buses d'air (8, 8') ou
    entre la pompe à fluide (22) et la pompe à air (5) de façon qu'une sortie du distributeur de flux (24) soit connectée à une buse de liquide (9), de sorte que le distributeur de flux (24) sépare le circuit de liquide et le circuit d'air.
  2. Système selon la revendication 1, comprenant une buse d'air configurée comme une buse télescopique (25), comportant une buse d'air extensible (8), un cylindre (26) et un piston creux (27) logé dans le cylindre (26), de sorte que
    le piston (27) divise le cylindre (26) à l'intérieur en deux chambres (26a, 26b), de sorte que
    une des chambres (26a) soit connectée à une première entrée (29) qui, de son côté, est connectée directement à la sortie de pompe à fluide (22) et que le piston (27) soit connecté à une deuxième entrée (28) qui, de son côté, est connectée à la sortie du dispositif de commande de flux d'air (6).
  3. Système selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le volume de la chambre de compression (10) est réduit pour engendrer un volume d'air pressurisé.
  4. Système selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la pompe à air (5) comprend en outre une chambre de fluide à volume variable (11) reliée à l'entrée de fluide (19), l'interface air-fluide (14 ; 16) étant agencée pour séparer les chambres de fluide et de compression (10, 11) l'une de l'autre, et en ce que le flux de liquide pressurisé fait varier le volume de la chambre de fluide (11) de façon à faire varier le volume de la chambre de compression (10) pour engendrer un volume d'air pressurisé ayant une valeur de pression absolue inférieure à 10 bar.
  5. Système selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la pompe à air (5) comprend en outre un corps (13) auquel l'interface air-fluide (14 ; 16) est reliée de façon que la chambre de compression (10) soit définie par le corps (13) et l'interface air-fluide (14 ; 16) et en ce que l'interface air-fluide (14 ; 16) divise le corps (13) en une première et une deuxième partie de façon que la chambre de compression (10) soit définie par la première partie du corps (13) et l'interface air-fluide (14 ; 16) et de façon que la chambre de fluide (11) soit définie par la deuxième partie du corps (13) et l'interface air-fluide (14 ; 16).
  6. Système selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que l'interface air-fluide est un piston (14) agencé en contact coulissant avec le corps (13) et configuré de façon que le flux de liquide pressurisé déplace le piston (14) afin de faire varier le volume de la chambre de compression (10) pour engendrer un volume d'air pressurisé ayant une valeur de pression absolue inférieure à 10 bar.
  7. Système selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que le piston (14) est précontraint vers l'entrée de fluide (19) par un ressort (15) logé dans le corps (13).
  8. Système selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que l'interface air-fluide est un élément élastique (16) attaché au corps (13) et configuré de façon que le flux de liquide pressurisé déforme l'élément élastique (16) afin de faire varier le volume de la chambre de compression (10) pour engendrer un volume d'air pressurisé ayant une valeur de pression absolue inférieure à 10 bar.
  9. Système selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que l'élément élastique (16) est une membrane élastique.
  10. Système selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que l'élément élastique (16) comprend une partie en forme de soufflet.
  11. Système selon l'une des revendications 8 à 10, caractérisé en ce que l'élément élastique (16) est réalisé en un matériau élastomère.
  12. Système selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la pompe à air (5) est pourvue d'un clapet de non-retour (18) relié à la chambre de compression (10), le clapet de non-retour (18) étant configuré pour permettre l'air d'entrer dans la chambre de compression (10) pendant l'expansion de celle-ci et pour empêcher l'air d'entrer dans la chambre de compression (10) pendant la compression de celle-ci.
  13. Système selon l'une des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre une buse (9) pour liquide de nettoyage agencée pour projeter du liquide de nettoyage sur la surface de capteur (3) et un dispositif de commande (7) du flux de liquide relié à la buse (9) pour liquide de nettoyage pour commander le flux de liquide la traversant.
  14. Système selon l'une des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre une unité de commande opérationnellement associée à au moins le dispositif de commande de flux d'air (6) et la pompe à liquide (22) pour commander leur fonctionnement, et l'unité de commande étant adaptée pour effectuer au moins un cycle de nettoyage.
  15. Système selon l'une des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre un boîtier (1) ayant une ouverture (2) adaptée au montage de la surface de capteur (3), caractérisé par au moins une caractéristique parmi :
    (i) la buse d'air (8) est attachée de manière fixe au boîtier (1) ;
    (ii) la buse de liquide (9) est attachée de manière fixe au boîtier (1) ;
    (iii) la buse d'air (8) est attachée de manière mobile au boîtier (1), la buse d'air (8) étant configurée de façon à mouvoir d'une position non opérationnelle à une position opérationnelle de sorte que, dans la position non opérationnelle, la buse d'air (8) est au moins partiellement cachée dans le boîtier (1) ;
    (iv) la buse de liquide (9) est attachée de manière mobile au boîtier (1), la buse de liquide (9) étant configurée de façon à mouvoir d'une position non opérationnelle à une position opérationnelle de sorte que, dans la position non opérationnelle, la buse de liquide (9) est au moins partiellement cachée dans le boîtier (1) ;
    (v) la pompe à air (5) est attachée au boîtier (1) ;
    (vi) le dispositif de commande de flux d'air (6) est attaché au boîtier (1) ; et
    (vii) le dispositif de commande de flux de liquide (7) est attaché au boîtier (1).
EP18150547.0A 2015-11-13 2016-11-14 Système de nettoyage d'un capteur monté sur un véhicule Active EP3333026B1 (fr)

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PCT/EP2015/076546 WO2017080614A1 (fr) 2015-11-13 2015-11-13 Système de nettoyage d'un capteur monté sur un véhicule
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JP6902850B2 (ja) 2021-07-14
JP2017193323A (ja) 2017-10-26
CN106694425A (zh) 2017-05-24
EP3333026A1 (fr) 2018-06-13
EP3168094B1 (fr) 2018-03-14
WO2017080614A1 (fr) 2017-05-18

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